AUCKLAND

Titirangi icon listed

Nestled in the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, a former West Auckland hotel complex with a remarkable history and a contemporary twist has been listed by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

Known locally to most Aucklanders as Lopdell House, Hotel Titirangi (Former), Te Uru Gallery and the Treasure House (Former) were recently added to the New Zealand Heritage List Rārangi Kōrero as a Category 1 historic place. The listing has been welcomed by the Lopdell Trust, who manage the complex and nominated it as an historic place.

“It has been a long journey for the Trust, and our Auckland Council partners, to rescue and refurbish Lopdell House and oversee the design and construction of Te Uru, Waitakere Contemporary Gallery,” says Trust member, Jeff Wells. “The local and wider community have enthusiastically adopted the facilities offered and the western end of the village now has a new vibrancy.”

Incorporating the classically influenced Treasure House, built as a museum in 1926, and the Spanish Mission-style Hotel Titirangi, built in 1930, the place is historically important for reasons that include its associations with the development of tourism in early 20th century New Zealand.

Standing outside and admiring its noble ediface, you might be forgiven for feeling you are in Beverly Hills. “The hotel’s Spanish Mission design and luxurious appointment reflected the influence of North American resorts, and featured extensive views of the Manukau Harbour and surrounding bush. Like many businesses at the time, however, both the hotel

Exterior of Hotel Titirangi (Former).

CREDIT: THE LOPDELL TRUST

and museum ventures struggled during the 1930s Depression,” says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Senior Heritage Assessment Advisor, Martin Jones.

Following the creation of numerous scenic and other reserves in the area – some donated by wealthy engineer and local businessman Henry Atkinson (1838-1921) – Titirangi became a significant tourist destination on the fringes of Auckland.

In 1926, visitor attractions increased with the construction of the Treasure House designed by architect Reginald B. Hammond – a small, single-storey museum, exhibiting a major kauri gum collection, Māori taonga and other artefacts collated by Dargaville Jeweller, Frank Peat, who had spent more than two decades collecting artefacts linked with New Zealand’s natural and cultural past.

In 1930, the five-storey Hotel Titirangi was added and promoted as an international destination. Catering for an anticipated upsurge in motorised tourism, this landmark building was designed by W.S.R Bloomfield, probably the first person of Māori descent to train as a Western-style architect.

Economic woes, felt across the world, turned Hotel Titirangi to other uses, housing the main state facility for educating deaf children in the North Island from 1942-60, and the country’s first live-in teacher training facility from 1960. An important community facility since the 1980s, its significance was enhanced by conservation of the pre-existing structures and addition of the strikingly modern Te Uru Gallery (2012-14). Both projects were undertaken by Mitchell and Stout Architects, and received National Awards from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2015.

While important for its heritage value, Lopdell House also holds a vital place in the Titirangi community. “Functioning as a major hub for the arts community in West Auckland since 1986, it also has special value for the extent and depth of its community associations,” says Mr Jones.

To celebrate the listing, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the Lopdell Trust held an event at Te Uru Gallery. A brief talk was given by Martin Jones about the history of the place and the formalities were concluded by remarks from Deputy Chief Executive Operations, Nicola Jackson, representing Chief Executive, Andrew Coleman. Nicola commented in her address: “There is always more to a place than the physical bricks and mortar.” n Writer: Antony Phillips

To view the listing information including full report: heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/9823

To visit the Lopdell Precinct: lopdellprecinct.org.nz/